antechinus

Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

n. Any of a group of marsupials, of the genus Antechinus, similar to shrews

Etymologies

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Examples

Other than the mountain pygmy possum, only four other small mammals are known to inhabit the alpine and subalpine areas of the Alps: the broad-toothed rat (Mastacomys fuscus), the bush rat (Rattus fuscipes), the dusky antechinus (Antechinus swainsonii), and the agile antechinus (A. agilis).

The last two of the endemics, namely Thornton Peak rat Melomys hadrourus and Atherton antechinus Antechinus godmani, have very restricted distributions which have been used as the basis for defining two centers of endemism for flightless mammals.

The mainland subspecies of swamp antechinus (Antechinus minimus maritimus) and white footed dunnart (Sminthopsis leucopus) are largely restricted to coastal regions, while other species, such as the koala, are widespread throughout this ecoregion and excluded from the Central Highlands because of the cold winters.

A number of other species are largely restricted to the mesic southwest and found in this ecoregion: the yellow-footed antechinus (Antechinus flavipes leucogaster), southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus), and the woylie (Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi).

While the thylacine, the devil, and the eastern quoll had been lost altogether, two minuscule species the white-footed dunnart and the swamp antechinus, a couple of mousy carnivorous marsupials did maintain populations on some of the tiny islands.

Mammals found in the rainforest include the dusky antechinus (Antechinus swainsonii) and the spotted-tail quoll (Dasyurus maculatus), as well as several Tasmanian endemics, including the Tasmanian long-tailed mouse (Pseudomys higginsi), Tasmanian pademelon (Thylogale billardierii), and Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii).

Word visualization

Comments

The black-tailed antechinus, found at high altitudes in the wet areas of southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales, partakes in marathon mating sessions that can last up to 14 hours, with each marsupial cavorting with several partners during that time.Unfortunately for the male black-tailed antechinus, these feverish marsupial orgies often prove fatal. All that exertion raises their stress hormone levels dramatically, eventually causing the males’ systems to shut down….

He seems less a likely participant in a happy bunny rumble than a sex fiend, but then it is Australia:

In the great reproductive scrambleAntechinus is ready to ramble,But this little shrew'sLong night of screwsIs distinctly a dangerous gambol.